Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Peaceful

Known for its exceptionally calm demeanor, The Sparkling gourami is an ideal candidate for a relaxed community aquarium. They rarely bother other fish and often retreat to safety rather than engage in any form of conflict. Their gentle nature means they can easily be outcompeted for food by faster, more boisterous species.

Diet

Insectivore

In the wild, The Sparkling gourami is an opportunistic omnivore that consumes a wide variety of plant and animal matter. In captivity, they will readily accept high-quality flakes, pellets, and frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. Supplementing their diet with blanched vegetables or spirulina-based foods will ensure optimal health and coloration.

Sex ratio

Group

This species exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism, making it relatively easy to distinguish males from females once they reach maturity. Males typically display much more vibrant colors and possess longer, more pointed dorsal and anal fins compared to the females. It is often recommended to keep one male with multiple females to prevent the male from excessively harassing a single female during courtship.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

To maintain optimal digestion, The Sparkling gourami should be fed small meals once or twice a day. It is important to only offer as much food as they can consume entirely within two to three minutes. Overfeeding can lead to severe water quality issues and potentially fatal digestive blockages.

Bioload

Low

The Sparkling gourami produces a relatively low biological load due to its small size and efficient metabolism. However, maintaining excellent water quality through regular maintenance is still fundamentally necessary. A well-established biological filter will easily handle the minimal waste produced by a group of these fish.

Flow

Moderate

The Sparkling gourami naturally inhabits slow-moving or stagnant waters, such as swamps, rice paddies, and densely vegetated ponds. They strongly prefer an aquarium with very gentle water circulation, as strong currents will cause them significant stress and exhaustion. Using a sponge filter or baffling the output of a power filter is highly recommended.

Jump risk

No

Reproduction

Bubble nest builder

During reproduction, the male of The Sparkling gourami constructs a complex bubble nest at the water's surface, often incorporating floating plant material. After a delicate courtship embrace, the female releases eggs which the male meticulously collects and places into the nest. The male then fiercely guards the nest and fry until they are free-swimming, at which point he should be removed to prevent him from eating them.

Compatibility & tankmates

With caution

This species is generally very peaceful and makes an excellent addition to a community aquarium. They get along perfectly with other similarly sized, non-aggressive species that share similar water requirements. It is best to avoid keeping them with overly boisterous or large fin-nipping tank mates that might cause them stress.

Tank level

All levels

The Sparkling gourami primarily occupies the middle and lower strata of the aquarium, rarely visiting the very top unless food is present. They enjoy navigating through dense vegetation, driftwood tangles, and rocky caves near the substrate. Ensure the lower half of the tank is well-decorated to provide them with ample territories and hiding spots.